Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Wash receptacles – With proximity operated valve
Patent
1997-01-28
2000-10-03
Fetsuga, Robert M.
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Wash receptacles
With proximity operated valve
4628, E03C 105
Patent
active
061254827
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a device for washing and rinsing hands, and is particularly suitable for use in premises where food is prepared or in other premises where regular hand washing is essential and needs to be monitored, such as in the catering and healthcare industries.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Hygiene regulations in premises such as restaurants, shops and factories in which food is handled have become increasingly stringent in recent years. Generally, the management is held responsible for ensuring that all employees wash their hands properly, for example after using the lavatory, before returning to work. It is however difficult for handwashing regulations to be properly enforced unless it can be comprehensively monitored. In particular, although an employee may be seen to visit a wash basin it is difficult to ensure that he does more than run his fingers under the tap. Also, it is difficult to ensure that soap is used during each hand wash, or indeed to provide soap which can be used without the risk of cross-contamination.
Handwashing units are known which include proximity sensors which automatically switch on a water supply when hands are inserted into a wash basin, thereby avoiding the need for manual contact with any taps or switches and thus reducing the risk of crosscontamination. In one known type of unit, the washing water supplied has a hand washing detergent or disinfectant component dissolved in it, for example an iodophor.
Various systems have been developed wherein it is intended that a counter be incremented each time a worker uses a handwash station. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,118 discloses a handwash station wherein soap is first dispensed onto a user's hands, followed by rinsing water. A counter is incremented at a predetermined point in the wash cycle. The disclosed system suffers from the problem that there is no positive determination that the user has indeed washed his/her hands fully.
Similarly, the apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,258 is based on the assumption that once a user has started a wash cycle she/he will complete it.
Recent developments in soap technology have produced liquid soaps with very low viscosity. When such soaps are used, there is a temptation for a busy worker merely to wipe off the soap on his/her clothing rather than rinsing properly.
Another problem associated with prior art handwash stations is that dirt accumulates between the station and the wall on which it is mounted. It is difficult to clean this dirt away which poses a health threat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a handwash station which provides reliable data regarding handwashing activity.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system wherein handwash data can be analysed centrally.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a handwash station with improved cleanability.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hand washing and rinsing unit for a wash basin comprising: a water dispenser; a liquid soap dispenser; a proximity sensor for detecting a user's hand or hands in a position to receive water and/or soap from the water and soap dispensers and outputting a hands present signal indicative thereof; and a controller for controlling the dispensing of water and soap in dependence on the hands present signal and recording valid hand wash events, wherein the controller responds to a hands present signal to control the water dispenser to dispense a quantity of water onto a user's hand or hands for wetting, and thereafter, on condition that the hands present signal is present during a predetermined test window, controls the soap dispenser to dispense soap onto a user's hand or hands and records a valid hand wash event.
Preferably, the control means is responsive to a hands present signal after the dispensing of soap to control the water dispenser to dispense a quantity of water onto a user's hand or hands for rinsing and wherein a valid h
REFERENCES:
patent: 4398310 (1983-08-01), Lienhard
patent: 4523087 (1985-06-01), Benton
patent: 5199118 (1993-04-01), Cole et al.
patent: 5261444 (1993-11-01), Childers
patent: 5515555 (1996-05-01), Wormcke
Cover sheet of European Search Report, Sep. 14, 1998, European Patent Application 97310067.0, 1 pg.
Fetsuga Robert M.
H.M.S.I. Limited
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